It is Finished

What a week!  What a month!  What a third of a year!  After church yesterday, Karen put her arm around my shoulders and chuckled, "Will you sleep for a week now?"   No, but since November our lives have hectically revolved around Big Events.  From planning for Christmas (at home and at church) while attending all the seasonal parties and meetings, we launched into writing, directing and choreographing the musical dinner theater at Svea, only to find ourselves immersed in Lenten activities and preparing for Holy Week (at home and at church).  Throw in six or seven funerals, both in and out of Svea, and trying to stay in touch with three out-of-the-home children, and I think we can be forgiven for hoping that April proves to be blah and boring!

The last ten days provided a fitting conclusion to this frenzy.  On Friday, we awoke to find Gene on our couch; on Saturday, Shelley and her family arrived to stay for Lori's funeral.  Palm Sunday wasn't too demanding at church - just getting the children to march around with palms and choosing an organ solo for special music.  We spent time at the visitation for Lori and pizza with the parents.  Monday morning Gene left and I played for Lori's funeral.  Tuesday Shelley and family left; Andrew and Philip completed almost a week's worth of school work in two days; we dined with sister Julie and kids in Willmar and brought two cousins back home to sleep over.  Wednesday brought Pizza Ranch, bowling and visiting; we stayed up until 11:30 to greet Michelle and boyfriend Saul when they pulled in from Mexico via Sioux Falls and Iowa.  Thursday we all had brunch at the parents' house, shopped, had coffee at Lulu Bean's until the Jones family left for home and the rest of us headed to the Maundy Thursday service at Svea, where Michelle and I played an organ/piano duet.  Joel also showed up that evening.  Friday brought David and Callie, a good long conversation with Michelle and Saul, the Good Friday service at which Callie played her harp, and a game of Telephone Pictionary.  On Saturday after some more food and talking, Michelle and Saul departed, and the rest of us practiced with the Luther League kids for Sunday's sunrise service.  From 6:30-11:30 on Sunday, we worshiped and led worship at Svea, then relaxed at Grandpa and Grandma's with a delicious turkey dinner fixed by Grandma.  David and Callie took off at about 5, and now we are getting back into our "normal" routine, with only a Science Fair, Andrew's permit test and Sarah's softball games to anticipate.

All together for 19 hours - plus one!

The Lord sustained us through all of this; all of this was Very Good.